Monday, October 31, 2011

You would think that with myself being a makeup artist that i would love Halloween? well truth is, Halloween is the one holiday I could care for less. In fact I would go as far to say I dislike it.
I Think maybe it steams from the era i grew up in where kids would get razor blades and get molested...sad, but that's what i remember from the Halloween youth. In fact in my neck of the woods, we would have block parties and were able to Trick -or-treat at specific houses that had red lights on there porches, all in the hopes of protecting the children. LOL! but here i am a grown man and I still think Halloween bites! But this Halloween I am going to Universal Haunts with one of my oldest Friends Joan, and i am so excited, Front of The Line passes so we are not standing for hours! Yes!So for this Oct 31st. I will be doing Halloween. And watching scary movies all day... everyone please be safe and have a great time, watch out for those bobbing apples LOL!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

What it does:
Designed in Paris with the favorite shades of Sephora's own Pro Beauty Team, this functional palette pays tribute to the makeup artist in everyone. Day or night, build your own look with natural colors, trendy shades, or intense hues. With so much makeup, you won't be able to resist trying new looks.

The Brief History Of Eye Shadow

Cosmetics have been used for as long as there have been people to use them. Face painting is mentioned in the Old Testament (Book of Ezekiel 23:40 ) and eye shadow was used in Egyptian burials dating back to 10,000 BC. The word "cosmetae" was first used to describe Roman slaves whose duty was to bathe men and women in perfume.

Egypt

As early as 10,000 BC, men and women used scented oils and ointments to clean and soften their skin and mask body odor. Dyes and paints were used to color the skin, body and hair. They rouged their lips and cheeks, stained their nails with henna, and lined their eyes and eyebrows heavily with kohl. Kohl was a dark-colored powder made of crushed antimony, burnt almonds, lead, oxidizedcopper, ochre, ash, malachite, and chrysocolla (a blue-green copper ore) or any combination thereof. It was applied with a small stick. The upper and lower eyelids were painted in a line that extended to the sides of the face for an almond effect. In addition to reducing sun glare, it was believed that kohl eyeliner could restore good eyesight and reduce eye infection. Kohl was kept in a small, flat-bottomed pot with a wide, tiny rim and a flat, disk-shaped lid. According to images of the time, the use of makeup was not limited to women. Highly polished silver and copper mirrors aided the application of makeup.

TOOLS AND STORAGE FOR MAKEUP

Greece

In Greece, precious oils, perfumes, cosmetic powders, eye shadows, skin glosses, paints, beauty unguents, and hair dyes were in universal use. Export and sale of these items formed an important part of trade around the Mediterranean. During the 7th and 8th centuries BC, Corinthian, Rhodian and East Greek traders dominated markets in perfume flasks and cosmetic containers. The containers included aryballoi, alabastra, pyxides and other small specialized shapes.

Rome

Ingredients

Men and women in the Near East painted their faces with kohl just like the Egyptians did. This was to protect them from the ‘evil eye.’ After the defeat of the Greeks by the Romans, the original Egyptian intention suffered its final bastardization beyond any reasonable recovery. The Romans were unabashedly hedonistic; Egyptian oils that were once used for sacred purposes became nothing more than sexual accouterments in Rome.There was some dignity amended when the Romans discovered medicinal applications as well. Plagues were so rampant throughout Rome, that aromatic gums and resins were burned to repel demons and bad spirits.

Common ingredients in eye shadows consist of talc, mica, sericite, magnesium stearate, colorants, and preservatives. Fillers in eye shadows are primarily talc. The liquid binders are typically a silicone and the dry binders are typically magnesium stearate. In order to make an eye shadow, there has to be a balance between the fillers, dry binders and liquid binders. Once the ideal combination is found the shadow are pressed using 700-900 psi.

Something to know:

Kohl: Kohl was the first recorded eye shadow. many people mistakenly believe that Kohl was just crushed charcoal, but real kohl has a surprising amount of stuff in it. Specific formulations of crushed antimony, lead (ugh) oxidized copper, ochre. burnt almonds, ash, malachite and chrysocolla were all part of the popular recipe- wow, if you didn't get bite by an ASP, your where destine to die a slow death from being poisoned whoa!

Protective Eye Shadow:

That Black rim eye of kohl that the ancient Egyptians wore wasn't just to make them pretty, wearing black around the eye protected the from glare. They also believed that the black rim of kohl would restore lost vision and protect there eyes for infection. for this reason that eye shadow was worn by both men and women of all ages and social classes.

Colors;

In ancient Greece and Rome, colored eye shadows were used for decorative reasons. The Iraqis thought that's the colored shadow would protect them from the "evil eye" but the Greeks and Romans just thought it was pretty. These shadows where created from using herbs, crushed minerals, and stones as well as dried flowers and crystallized dyes from plants and animals sources.

It seems that Actress Salma Hayak has jumped on the, "I want to be a beauty mover and shaker too". band -wagon. She has created an entire beauty line including Haircare products. Well , I couldn't
help myself. I went on over to my local CVS, yes, CVS and checked it out. I liked it, Salma, I liked it.
It's an oil free, sheer- coverage moisturizing tinted moisturizer that's mineral based. i found it to work well on HD as well. It doesn't sit on your face allowing the fine lines to just get filled with product, YUCK!, but rather blends and radiates your skin. I have not checked out the rest of her line , but I will in time. Check it of at your local CVS or on line at CVS $13.99Oh and it's super transparent so it looks like your wearing nothing.

I love the idea of a eye liner pen, it's the perfect way to get an amazing line and get as graphic as you can, and still you can still do a natural look by lining right on the upper lash line. Prefect for a clean crisp cat eye. And when they say, "stay All Day", they mean it, i lined the back of my hand around 10;30 am an by 6pm it was still there, mind you I wash my hands religiously during the day too. It's not waterproof, but water resistant.

Monday, October 24, 2011

I was first introduced to this concealer in 2005 by no other then actress Doris Roberts, I was doing her makeup for a film, OUR HOUSE and she requested it, so off I went to my closest Nordstroms and picked one up. well from the start, i loved it. It's so luminous with out being shining and blends amazingly to any ones skin. In fact my director of photography on our film said in his thick Argentine accent, " what was that? what did you do? " so you see the results instantly and it doesn't clog and build up under the eyes. back then they only had three shades, now the line has 7 and they're amazing.

check this out!

The beauty secret of the world's top makeup artists and models, Touche Éclat is the original must-have for a radiant, flawless face.

Capture 8 hours of sleep with the click of a pen. With a few strategic strokes of this award-winning complexion highlighter—dark circles, fine lines and signs of fatigue virtually disappear. Powered by the radiance-boosting Luminocaptide Complex, skin is instantly illuminated, so you look rested and refreshed—even if you’ve been up for hours. Sleek and sophisticated, it discretely slips into a makeup bag for quick touch-ups anytime. It’s the one beauty essential no woman should ever be without.

each one cost $40.00 but they last long and are so worth it!

here's a tip: weather your a girl on the go or a fabulous makeup artist! I find these work best when applied and blended with your finger. the warmth of your body blends the color even and more smooth, for artist, i apply it where needed and have my actress use a mirror and blend them selves....... gotta thank actress Jennifer Esposito for that one!

Every one's got there something, well at least that's what singer Nikka Costas Is signing in my ears at this moment. So, I thought Why not share my something;s with you, A few of my favorite things.

BENEFIT Creasless Eye Shadows in Busy Signal & Birthday Suit.These Amazing Little pots of pretty are guaranteed to make you gorgeous as they line, shade and contour your pretty peepers. This is truly a do it all shadow that doubles as liner as well, multi-use is good right? These shades are blendable too so you can wear them sheer or as dramatic as you like. These Creaseless Shadows have great staying powder, i mean, 12 hours on set in hot lights, perfect. great for the gal that seems to eat her makeup. I swear by them and think you will too!

quick tip: for keeping it sheer? blend evenly from the lash line to brow bone. For buildable coverage, let the shadow sit for hm, about 30 seconds then apply another layer.

BUSY SIGNAL [Venitian Brown]

BIRTHDAY SUIT

quick tip: for lining eyes, sweep tip of brush into the shadow. place edge of brush against upper lash line at outer corner of your eye and ever so steady draw a line towards the inner of your eye. Then smudge in into the lash line for sexy softer look. repeat on lower lases. BENEFIT $19.00

TARTE cheek stain in tickle ~

Hands down this is one of my favorite blushes these days. I use this almost every time I do the lovely Brooke Burns Makeup. what I love about it is that its buildable and i can apply it sheer for just a kiss of color or over another color for depth. It give the cheeks a healthy glow that's not wet looking, but healthy and beautiful. Also these are made to wear on your lips too. Don't let the color shade of the packaging scare you. i was like, "this is grape, no thanks", but i gave it a try and look love forever.

And for those of you that may want n alternative blush try Tartes Award winning Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush is matching shades. wear alone or with matching gel cheek stain $25.00

tickled

SMASHBOX Nude Eye Shadow in nude ~ this is a staple in my kit at all times, i have up to 4 at all times, what i like about this shadow is that it can be worn alone for a clean , soft look, or washed on in layers to create a deeper eye, but still look natural. also it's great for contouring the eye and as a blueprint shade to outline the design your going for..and its MATTE! yes! long wearing too! Smashbox $14.00

MAC Pro Long wearing eyeshadow in Legendary Black [warm almost black] I love this new to me unique eye shadow with it's silk-creamy texture thats' easy to blend and build. creates a smooth eye lids no matter how dramatic the application and last up to 8 hours

here's a tip:I like to use it as eye liner, mix a little water with your angle liner brush and glide ever so evenly at the top lash line, the almost black shadow leaves a more subtle, yet still dramatic look.

ECOPOUF® CLEANSING PAD

This dual-sided shower loofah is a natural bath and body essential! The natural loofah side gently exfoliates to reveal fresh, radiant skin. The EcoPouf netting, made from 100% recycled plastic, creates a rich, cleansing lather. The reversible hand strap provides a controlled comfortable grip so you can cleanse to perfection from head-to-toe.

ABOUT ME

Hey Guys & Gals, My names Myke Spezzano, I am a native Califonrian with 20 Plus years in the business of making pretty. I have worked In fashion, Print, Commercials and film & Television. I started this blog to share with anyone interested, my ideas, passions, influences and the things that inspire me to do what I do. So i am thinking that this will be a fun place. Feel free to contribute and leave me comments. i always reply back pretty quickly too.
Much Peace and Kindness.
Be pretty where it counts!
xoxox myke